This is a sponsored guest post by Guy Arnold. Guy, from leafy Hertfordshire, England, loves to write about anything, especially if it’s travel-related. Travelling more of the world and seeking adventure is a passion he hopes to continue with.

If there’s one thing to stress about the little group of islands off the west coast of Africa, it’s the amount of variety on offer. Cape Verde: ten beautiful islands, each of which wearing their own stunning outfits – choosing which one to visit could be tough (unless, of course, you take the easier option and go island-hopping).

Cape Verde Beach

Perhaps a logical start, because it harbours the main international airport, is Sal. It’s a northerly island and it pulls in the most tourists. This is thanks to its perfect beaches; quiet and untouched, like snow-covered gardens on a winter morning. Bask in the baking African sun, or take a stroll down to the pier where you can buy a whole yellow fin tuna for a few Euros (as is the accepted currency), fresh from the catch. This really highlights the rest of the country’s cuisine; local and European dishes abound, with live, traditional music playing in the evenings, making Cape Verde restaurants impossible to miss out on. Sal, in particular, offers the most when it comes to bars, restaurants and cafes. Whether you’re on the beach, or down a street, there’ll be somewhere to eat and relax.

Sunset at Santa Antao

The island of Santa Antao, directly to the west of Sal, is where the ramblers, climbers, cyclists and photographers should definitely head to. The scenery there is incredible. It’s like the Scottish highlands, except with the balmy temperatures. Mountainous and smothered with lush greenery, namely eucalyptus, pine and cypress trees, Santa Antao, as well as the second largest in the country, is the most striking island. It’s also home to a mystery. Near the town of Janela, on the valley floor, lies a rock poking its head out precariously from the bushes. It may, at first, appear inconspicuous. However, on closer inspection, you’ll find inscriptions carved in a foreign tongue. No-one is entirely sure what they mean but, it goes to prove that the Portuguese were not, in fact, the first to find these islands. It would appear to be the Chinese, because the writings are in such a language.

Other islands include Porto Santo, the only island with a golf course, Frogo Island, made famous for its volcano, and Maio Island, a sleepy and very much undisturbed place. Here, donkeys roam the dusty streets between stone buildings whose holes in their walls act as windows. Maio, like its more tourist-friendly cousin, Sal, still offers fine beaches, though. And, because the entire island hasn’t been tarred with its cousin’s brush, its beaches really are the epitome of privacy. That doesn’t stop them from being beautiful, either. The water that laps their perfect forms is as pure and blue as the sky in summer. If you’re island-hopping, this will be a memorable place for its tranquillity.

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